Aircraft seat arrangement including table

Abstract

An aircraft seat arrangement includes first and second seats and first and second consoles, the first console being in front of the first seat and adjacent to the second seat, such that the first and second consoles and the first and second seats are in a staggered arrangement. A table is housed by the first console. The table is arranged for movement to a stowed position, in which the table is inserted within said first console. The table is arranged for, optionally horizontal, movement to a deployed position, in which the table is positioned aft of the first console so as to be suitable for use by a passenger seated in the first seat. The table may be arranged to present different areas of useable table surface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An aircraft seat arrangement comprising
 a first seat in a first row, 
 a second seat in a second row, the second row being located forward of the first row, 
 a first console located in the second row and being in front of the first seat, the first console being located adjacent to the second seat, and 
 a second console located in the first row and being adjacent to the first seat, said second console being directly aft of said second seat, 
 whereby the first and second consoles and the first and second seats are in a staggered arrangement, and 
 the aircraft seat arrangement further comprises 
 a table housed by said first console, wherein
 the table is arranged for movement to a stowed position, in which the table is inserted within said first console, 
 the table is arranged for movement to a deployed position, in which the table is positioned aft of the first console so as to be suitable for use by a passenger when seated in the first seat, and 
 in the deployed position, the table is disposed above legs of a passenger when the passenger is seated in the first seat. 
 
 
     
     
       2. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the table is arranged such that the movement of the table from the stowed position to the deployed position is limited to movement in a substantially horizontal direction. 
     
     
       3. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first console comprises an aperture or recess through which the table moves when being inserted within said first console. 
     
     
       4. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first console comprises a monitor for viewing by a passenger when seated in the first seat and the table is arranged to be inserted within said first console at a position beneath the monitor. 
     
     
       5. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein the first console comprises stowage space vertically located between the monitor and the table when stowed. 
     
     
       6. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first console includes a foot-well and the first seat is convertible into a bed-mode in which the feet of a passenger when lying on the first seat would extend into the foot-well. 
     
     
       7. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first console includes an upper surface usable by a passenger when seated in the second seat. 
     
     
       8. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first console includes a stowage space for use by a passenger when seated in the second seat. 
     
     
       9. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first console includes a first arm rest portion, which is located to one side of the second seat for use by a passenger when seated in the second seat and the aircraft seat arrangement also includes a second arm rest portion on the other side of the second seat for use by the passenger when seated in the second seat, wherein the first console includes a step between the first arm rest portion and the rest of the upper surface of the first console and the height of the first arm rest portion is substantially the same as the height of the second arm rest portion. 
     
     
       10. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first console includes a first arm rest portion, which is located to one side of the second seat for use by a passenger when seated in the second seat and the aircraft seat arrangement also includes a second arm rest portion on the other side of the second seat for use by the passenger when seated in the second seat, wherein the first console includes a central upper surface which is substantially the same height as the height of the first arm rest portion, whereas the height of the first arm rest portion is significantly higher than the height of the second arm rest portion. 
     
     
       11. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the table is arranged for movement to a first deployed position, in which a first portion of the table is accommodated within the first console, and a second portion of the table is positioned aft of the first console, such that the table provides a usable table space, having a first area, for use by a passenger when seated in the first seat, 
 the table is arranged for movement to a second deployed position, in which at least part of said first portion of the table is positioned outside of the first console, such that the table provides a usable table space, having a second area, for use by a passenger when seated in the first seat, the second area being larger than the first area, and 
 the table is arranged to be configured in a third deployed position, in which the table provides a usable table space, having a third area, for use by a passenger when seated in the first seat, the third area being larger than the second area. 
 
     
     
       12. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the table includes at least one table leaf arranged to be deployed to increase the area of table space usable by a passenger when seated in the first seat. 
     
     
       13. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the table has between two and ten set deployed positions, such that when the table is located at a set position, a resistance to movement of the table to another set position is greater than a resistance to movement of the table to a set position when the table is located between successive set positions. 
     
     
       14. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat arrangement includes a third seat, a fourth seat, a third console, and a fourth console, such that
 the third seat and the fourth console are located in the first row and 
 the fourth seat and the third console are located in the second row, 
 and wherein 
 each of the first console and the third console have a foot-well, 
 the first seat is convertible into a bed-mode in which the feet of a passenger when lying on the first seat would extend into the foot-well of the first console, 
 the third seat is convertible into a bed-mode in which the feet of a passenger when lying on the third seat would extend into the foot-well of the third console, and 
 the foot-well of the first console has a width that is substantially identical to the corresponding width of the foot-well of the third console. 
 
     
     
       15. An aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the deployed position, the table extends over a top of a passenger's legs when the passenger is seated in the first seat. 
     
     
       16. A method of using a table in an aircraft, wherein the method includes the following steps:
 providing an aircraft seat arrangement according to  claim 1 , 
 pulling a table horizontally out from within the first console to a position in which the passenger can use the table, and 
 pushing the table horizontally back into the first console. 
 
     
     
       17. A method of using a table in an aircraft according to  claim 16 , wherein
 pulling the table horizontally out from within the first console to the position in which the passenger can use the table includes using the table in a first set configuration, in which the table presents a first area of useable table-space, 
 pushing the table horizontally back into the first console is performed such that there is substantially no useable table-space presented, 
 and wherein the method further comprises
 using the table in a second set configuration, in which the table presents a second area of useable table-space, and 
 using the table in a third set configuration, in which the table presents a third area of useable table-space, 
 
 and wherein 
 the third area is larger than the second area, and the second area is larger than the first area. 
 
     
     
       18. An aircraft seat arrangement comprising
 a first seat in a first row, 
 a second seat in a second row, the second row being located forward of the first row, 
 a first console located in the second row and being in front of the first seat, the first console being located adjacent to the second seat, and 
 a second console located in the first row and being adjacent to the first seat, said second console being directly aft of said second seat, 
 whereby the first and second consoles and the first and second seats are in a staggered arrangement, and 
 the aircraft seat arrangement further comprises 
 a table housed by said first console, wherein
 the table is arranged for movement to a stowed position, in which the table is inserted within said first console, 
 the table is arranged for movement to a deployed position, in which the table is positioned aft of the first console so as to be suitable for use by a passenger when seated in the first seat, and 
 the first console includes a first arm rest portion, which is located to one side of the second seat for use by a passenger when seated in the second seat and the aircraft seat arrangement also includes a second arm rest portion on the other side of the second seat for use by the passenger when seated in the second seat, wherein the first console includes at least one of (i) a step between the first arm rest portion and the rest of the upper surface of the first console and the height of the first arm rest portion is substantially the same as the height of the second arm rest portion and (ii) a central upper surface which is substantially the same height as the height of the first arm rest portion, whereas the height of the first arm rest portion is significantly higher than the height of the second arm rest portion. 
 
 
     
     
       19. An aircraft seat comprising
 a first seat in a first row, 
 a second seat in a second row, the second row being located forward of the first row, 
 a first console located in the second row and being in front of the first seat, the first console being located adjacent to the second seat, and 
 a second console located in the first row and being adjacent to the first seat, said second console being directly aft of said second seat, 
 whereby the first and second consoles and the first and second seats are in a staggered arrangement, and 
 the aircraft seat arrangement further comprises 
 a table housed by said first console, wherein
 the table is arranged for movement to a stowed position, in which the table is inserted within said first console, 
 the table is arranged for movement to a deployed position, in which the table is positioned aft of the first console so as to be suitable for use by a passenger when seated in the first seat, and 
 
 in the deployed position, an upper surface of the table is horizontal. 
 
     
     
       20. An aircraft seat arrangement comprising
 a first seat in a first row, 
 a second seat in a second row, the second row being located forward of the first row, 
 a first console located in the second row and being in front of the first seat, the first console being located adjacent to the second seat, and 
 a second console located in the first row and being adjacent to the first seat, said second console being directly aft of said second seat, 
 whereby the first and second consoles and the first and second seats are in a staggered arrangement, and 
 the aircraft seat arrangement further comprises 
 a table housed by said first console, wherein
 the table is arranged for movement to a stowed position, in which the table is inserted within said first console, 
 the table is arranged for movement to a deployed position, in which the table is positioned aft of the first console so as to be suitable for use by a passenger when seated in the first seat, and 
 the first console comprises at least one of (i) a monitor for viewing by a passenger when seated in the first seat and the table is arranged to be inserted within said first console at a position beneath the monitor and (ii) a foot-well and the first seat is convertible into a bed-mode in which the feet of a passenger when lying on the first seat would extend into the foot-well.